Jessica Rudd: Tony Abbott missed his chance

My husband tells some hilarious stories from year five at Belmont State School as a new arrival from Hong Kong with patchy English 25 years ago.

Among the top five is when he bought a burger from tuck-shop and was horrified at the raw, bloodied patty, which he later discovered was beetroot.

But I've shared in this column before my personal favourite, in which his class was asked to make cylindrical cardboard masks with a rectangular slot for the eyes.

My confused husband asked what was going on. His teacher explained they were dressing up as a fugitive from history called Ned, which to him seemed a strange thing for a bunch of rule-abiding primary schoolers to do.

It is fascinating that a culture that chuckles at the memory of a weapon-brandishing, iron-clad fugitive could even entertain the idea of banning the clothing choices of innocent, devout, religious Australian women.

What's more, that a prime minister who trained for the Catholic priesthood and regularly (as has been noted) gets around in nought but a lycra triangle could tell us, straight-faced, that he finds these religious robes "confronting".

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"Frankly, I wish it weren't worn," said Mr Abbott, in front of our flag.

At a time when we are participating in foreign conflicts for freedom's sake, he's making wardrobe suggestions. Who does he think he is? Gok?

I was floored by that press conference. Dismayed.

By the time we saw his welcome backflip on an absurd proposal to segregate women wearing the niqab in parliament, it was too late. The damage had been done.

In this fractious environment it is reckless to stand in the prime minister's courtyard and use that platform in service of anything other than calm and unity.

Surely he knows the weight his office carries. Surely he knew which of his remarks would be chiseled into grabs for the TV news.

What he should have said is that every time he goes to church he is grateful for his freedom to worship however and whomever he chooses.

He should have paid respect to the sacrifices of the men and women putting their lives on the line for the freedom of others from tyranny and oppression.

He should have said that freedom is always worth protecting and defending, and that as a religious man himself, he respects the rights and choices of all Australians of faith.

He should have and he could have, but he didn't. Instead, he played to fear and ignorance and hitched a ride on the Lambie express. Next stop? Pauline Hanson. How very disappointing.